The award recognizes Socolow's research on energy conservation, renewable energy and technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which has influenced international policies on energy and the environment.

The award was established in 2005 and recognizes an individual for significant contributions to a secure energy future through innovations in conservation and renewable energy technology. Socolow will receive the honor during the society's 2009 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition in November at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Socolow is the co-principal investigator of Princeton's Carbon Mitigation Initiative, a 15-year project that has launched new research in environmental science, energy technology, geological engineering and public policy. His current research focuses on global carbon management and methods of countering global warming through underground storage of carbon produced by fossil fuel burning.